Press Release

Anchorage Hosts the Conference of Western Attorneys General 2006 Annual Meeting

August 6, 2006

(Anchorage) – The Conference of Western Attorneys General (CWAG) will convene its 2006 Annual Meeting August 6-10, 2006 in Anchorage, Alaska. CWAG is a legal forum that assists its membership by cultivating knowledge and facilitating cooperation and coordination around areas of interest to the west, including: water, fish and wildlife, public lands, minerals, environmental protection and Indian Law.

"Over 500 guests are expected to attend this event including the Attorneys General and staff for CWAG's 15 member states plus the Attorneys General for the states of Texas, Nebraska, Tennessee and West Virginia," said Alaska Attorney General David Márquez. "On behalf of Governor Frank H. Murkowski and myself we welcome you to Alaska and hope that your stay in our state is enjoyable and informative."

"Anchorage is central to Alaska's forward-looking commercial, energy, natural resources, aeronautical and legal industries, so it is a great place to meet and conduct our business," said CWAG Chair Mark Shurtleff, Attorney General of Utah.

The 2006 conference features more than a dozen panels exploring a wide range of legal issues of significance and interest to state attorneys general.

Panels will explore key issues in the West, including: oil and natural gas: western energy supplies; state preparedness from natural disasters such as forest fires, tsunamis and floods; potential state liability issues arising from Avian Influenza (H5N1); "Best Practices" examples for improving law through multidisciplinary task forces; Clean Water Act issues resulting from mineral extraction; an update on state legislative initiatives involving Methamphetamine in the West; and identity theft, to name just some of the topics.

"This year's keynote speakers include the Honorable John M. Roll, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court for Arizona and Jesse Choper, the Earl Warren Distinguished Professor of Law and former Dean of the University of California, Boalt Hall School of Law, who will offer observations and commentary on the U.S. Supreme Court's 2005 term," said Tom Gede, CWAG Executive Director. "Other VIPs participating at this event include the Honorable Vic Toews, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and the Honorable John M. Roll, Chief Judge for the U.S. District Court for Arizona."

CWAG is a bipartisan group comprised of the 15 western states and three Pacific territories. Members include: Alaska, Arizona California, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam.

At the conclusion of this year's meeting Attorney General Shurtleff will be handing over the CWAG Chairman's gavel to incoming Chair Lawrence Wasden, Attorney General for the State of Idaho.

The CWAG 2006 meeting will be held at the Anchorage Hilton, 500 W. 3rd Avenue. For more information, please contact CWAG Executive Director Tom Gede at (916) 323-1939 or Deputy Director Karen White at (916) 833-2603.

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The Attorney General and Department of Law staff may not provide legal advice to private citizens or organizations. Please contact an attorney if you need legal advice. The Alaska Lawyer Referral Service or your local bar association may be able to assist you in locating a lawyer.